Michael Jolley: Grimsby deserved nothing



Posted Sunday, August 05, 2018 by PA

Michael Jolley: Grimsby deserved nothing

Grimsby manager Michael Jolley described his side’s 4-1 opening-day defeat to Forest Green as “an incredibly disappointing day” for the club.

A Christian Doidge double guided the Nailsworth side to a comfortable win on the road as a calamitous second-half display from their hosts helped them on their way.

Danny Collins scored an own goal after attempting to pass back to James McKeown, while an under-hit ball back to the goalkeeper saw Doidge grab his second – and Forest Green’s fourth – of the afternoon.

Carl Winchester had levelled things for the visitors early on in the second half after Mitch Rose’s penalty had given Grimsby the lead, and a frustrated Jolley didn’t hold back in his criticism of his side afterwards.

“It’s an incredibly disappointing day for us,” Jolley said.

“I think our performance didn’t warrant any points from the game. We made some pretty fundamental errors which cost us and defueled us in terms of our energy, so we obviously have to look at that.

“I can accept people making mistakes because that happens. What I can’t accept is people not following the game plan, and not executing what’s been happening for the last six weeks, so clearly we need to address that.

“I didn’t like any aspect of our performance during the game. I think we were fortunate to go in 1-0 up, and we said that at half-time.

“We tried to address it, but whether it was the occasion or the expectation that’s been piled onto the players remains to be seen.”

Forest Green boss Mark Cooper, meanwhile, felt his side were fully deserving of their victory, which saw them gain revenge for a 3-0 defeat to the same opponents on the final day of last season.

“I thought we played really well in the first half,” Cooper said.

“I thought we dominated the game, we had long spells of possession but couldn’t find the killer touch.

“It was a horrendous penalty decision. At the time, I thought it was a ridiculous decision, and when you see it back it looks even worse. He’s two yards away, and his arm’s down by his side, and he gives a penalty from nowhere.

“I just challenged the boys at half-time, told them they’d done really well, not to change anything, and just try and be a little bit more incisive in the final third.

“I didn’t see the second goal, but that’s what happens when you really try and press the opposition.

“I thought we were the better team. Grimsby have had a good pre-season, and for us to come here and control the game like we did for large periods of the game is full credit to the players.”

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